Soon, compulsory registration for students going abroad

Calling for stringent action against recruiting agencies cheating Indian students with false offers, Union Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs Vayalar Ravi said the Centre is planning to introduce compulsory registration system for those studying abroad.

Consultancy and recruiting agencies offering higher education and part-time jobs to Indian students abroad were engaged in another form of visa fraud, the Minister told reporters after inaugurating the Aluva Press Forum office in Aluva.

"The students are cheated by recruiting agencies by giving false offers that they can take up jobs to earn $1200 per month while continuing their studies. Most of the students are underpaid and living in pathetic conditions," he said.

Police should take stringent steps by registering cases against fraud consultancy and recruiting agencies under IPC for cheating, he said.

Referring to the attacks on Indian students in Australia, he said compulsory registration would help in tracing students in any distress situation and extending help expeditiously.

Presently, the voluntary registration scheme is in force for Indian students studying abroad.

Indian embassies in US and Australia have been instructed to launch websites to ensure smooth sailing of the registration process.

The Minister sought the state government's assistance in providing information about the expatriates returning from abroad, especially from the Gulf.

He also said the Centre was committed to helping the state government especially during natural calamities.

The MPs from Kerala have apprised the Agricultural Minister of the crop damage in the rains. However, due to the infighting in the CPM, the state administration has come to halt delaying the completion of formalities for availing Central assistance, Ravi alleged.